Welcome to Good Night's Rest

Your ultimate resource for all things sleep. You can explore our reviews on mattresses, sleep aids and more. Or you if you're generally looking to improve your sleep, we've created sleep guides ranging from meditation to music playlists.

"I love sleep. My life has the tendency to fall apart when I'm awake, you know?
"

Ernest Hemingway

"Each night, when I go to sleep, I die. And the next morning, when I wake up, I am reborn.
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Mahatma Gandhi

"There is no sunrise so beautiful that it is worth waking me up to see it. "

Mindy Kaling

"Sleep is God. Go worship."

Jim Butcher

"Sleep is the best meditation. "

Dalai Lama

"Sleep is that golden chain that ties health and our bodies together."

Thomas Dekker

"The best bridge between despair and hope is a good night’s sleep."

E. Joseph Cossman

"Sorrow can be alleviated by good sleep, a bath and a glass of wine."

Thomas Aquinas

"It is a common experience that a problem difficult at night is resolved in the morning after the committee of sleep has worked on it."

John Steinbeck

"No day is so bad it can’t be fixed with a nap."

Carrie Snow

"A day without a nap is like a cupcake without frosting."

Terri Guillemets

"Sleep is the interest we have to pay on the capital which is called in at death; and the higher the rate of interest and the more regularly it is paid, the further the date of redemption is postponed."

Arthur Schopenhauer

"A good laugh and a long sleep are the best cures in the doctor’s book."

Irish Proverb

"A ruffled mind makes a restless pillow."

Charlotte Brontë

"If a man had as many ideas during the day as he does when he has insomnia, he’d make a fortune."

Griff Niblack

"The worst thing in the world is to try to sleep and not to."

F. Scott Fitzgerald

"The amount of sleep required by the average person is five minutes more."

Wilson Mizener

"Man should forget his anger before he lies down to sleep."

Mahatma Gandhi

Pros of Good Sleep

Good Sleep

Immunity Boost

Positive Physical Health Cycle

Less Physical Health Complications

Associated with a longer life span and better quality of life.

Improves athletic and overall physical performance.

Increases the human body's physical pain threshold.

Supports overall health by boosting metabolism and immune system functions.

Aids in the prevention of vascular (heart) diseases.

Good Sleep

Cognitive Boost

Positive Mental Health Cycle

Less Mental Health Complications

Strengthens memory and alertness, improving focus and the ability to learn.

Boosts abstract thinking, creativity and problem-solving.

Contributes to mental and emotional stability.

Lowers stress and improves overall mood.

Cons of Bad Sleep

Poor Sleep

Immunity Decline

Negative Physical Health Cycle

More Physical Health Complications

Increases appetite and stimulates cravings for food high in carbohydrates and fat.

Other

Factors that Affect Sleep

Darkness

Natural darkness at night induces sleep, while natural light in the morning invites alertness and a willingness to get up and out of bed.

Light

Artificial light impairs your eyes’ innate ability to recognize daytime and nighttime, which can make it difficult for you to follow a natural sleep pattern.

Time

Crossing into a new time zone while traveling leads to jet lag, which is your internal body clock being temporarily out of sync with your local surroundings.

Place

Working night shifts require your sleep patterns to be routinely out of sync with not just natural darkness and light, but also family and friends keeping regular hours.

Physical Condition

Chronic physical discomfort and pain caused by conditions like acid reflux, arthritis, premenstrual syndrome and others can disrupt sleep throughout the night.

Mental Health

Anxiety, depression and other mental health issues can prevent you from completely relaxing; so bedtime can be a problem, and restful deep sleep hard to achieve.

Food

Heavy meals, especially if spicy or fatty, take more work to digest. This keeps you from relaxing and makes it hard to fall asleep.

Drink

Alcohol intake may initially help you sleep, but it increases night awakenings and decreases sleep quality. Even drinking too much water right before going to bed can have you waking up to go to the bathroom multiple times.

Medications

Medications for various conditions---from headaches to high blood pressure, even depression and ADHD---come with side effects that can disrupt your sleep cycle.

"Other" Substances

Stimulants like caffeine and nicotine should be avoided close to bedtime.

Work

Computers, smartphones and work-related materials in the bedroom will distract you from the prime purposes of your sacred space: sex and sleep.

Stress

Stress induces the secretion of cortisol, which increases alertness; therefore, physical and mental stressors---from strenuous exercise to emotional confrontations---should be avoided right before bed.

Routine

A set of relaxing habits can condition you to look forward to sleep. A pre-sleep routine may include taking a bath, reading a book, writing in a diary and even meditation.

Consistency

Keeping a consistent schedule, even during weekends, is the key to better sleep health. This keeps your internal body clock in check and helps you avoid sleep hangovers.